At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our team to drive ad products and shape campaigns that connect students and advertisers.
- Company: native is a fast-moving startup focused on enhancing student engagement and sustainable funding for Students’ Unions.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, potential for permanent role, and a collaborative work environment in London.
- Why this job: This role offers meaningful work, rapid learning, and the chance to influence real-world campaigns.
- Qualifications: We're looking for sharp thinkers from diverse backgrounds; resilience and initiative are key.
- Other info: No cover letter needed; show us how you think instead!
The predicted salary is between 24000 - 36000 ÂŁ per year.
native has been building for 10 years. We\’re still very much a startup: fast-moving, ambitious, and building with intent. We\’re creating the infrastructure that connects students, Students’ Unions, universities, and advertisers through a joined-up marketplace.
Our goal is to increase student engagement while enabling Students’ Unions to secure sustainable funding. For advertisers, we offer meaningful, measurable routes to student audiences. The more aligned these incentives are, the more defensible and scalable our business becomes.
We’re looking for graduates who want to step straight into meaningful work, learn quickly, and grow fast.
What We’re Looking For
We value clarity of thought, good judgment under pressure, and the ability to create structure where none exists.
You Might Be Right For This If
- You think in first principles, not borrowed answers – solving problems from the ground up.
- You move fast without being messy – you know when speed matters, and when precision does.
- You thrive in ambiguity – you’re comfortable making decisions when there isn’t a map.
- You do the work – not for applause, but because it matters to you that things are done well.
- You’ve got range – you’re not just smart on paper; you’ve done things that demanded resilience, judgment, or initiative.
We are open to a wide range of degree backgrounds, but we look for intellectual sharpness and structured thinking. That often shows up in disciplines like engineering, maths, philosophy, languages (whether classical or modern), or history – but not always. If your academic path is less typical, help us understand how your thinking has been shaped and why it stands up.
What You’ll Be Working On
You’ll join the Ad Products & Inventory function. This team defines what native sells, how it’s structured, and how it scales across the business. It is a strategic, commercially critical part of the company.
In Your First Six Months, You’ll Be Involved In:
- Running the ad products that drive native’s commercial engine.
- Working with sales, delivery, data, and creative, to shape how campaigns are sold and executed.
- Managing the real-world constraints of inventory, pricing, and availability.
- Helping build the systems that underpin thousands of campaigns across the UK.
Your decisions will influence everything from sales strategy to campaign execution, and you’ll be expected to contribute early and often – with real support and feedback along the way.
Progression
This is a six-month engagement, paid at the London Living Wage. If you perform well, the expectation is that you’ll move into a promoted, permanent role at the end of that period. We treat this as a proving ground for long-term hires, not an internship.
During your interview process, you’ll be encouraged to speak to people at native who walked this path before you.
Location and Ways of Working
You’ll be based in our London office, working in person at least four days a week, with one optional day remote. We believe in high-bandwidth collaboration and fast decision-making, so most of the work happens face-to-face.
How to Apply
We don’t want a cover letter. Instead, send us something that shows how you think. That might be:
- A trade-off you’ve had to make and how you decided.
- A problem you tackled without much guidance.
- A system or process you’d redesign and how you’d go about it.
- A time you had to choose what not to do, and why.
Also please do include a recent CV, or a link to your LinkedIn profile / equivalent.
And if you’re reading this and thinking, I really want to do this, but I probably won’t get picked – apply anyway. We care far more about how you think and how you show up than whether you tick every imagined box. Don’t rule yourself out.
We’re hiring on a rolling basis. If this sounds like the kind of challenge you’re ready for, get in touch.
Equal Opportunity Statement
We are actively creating an equitable environment for everyone at native to thrive.
Diversity and inclusion are a priority for us and we are making sure we have lots of support for all of our people to grow at native. At native, we embrace diversity in all of its forms and foster an inclusive environment for all people to do the best work of their lives with us. #J-18808-Ljbffr
Graduate Scheme employer: TargetJobs UK
Contact Detail:
TargetJobs UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Graduate Scheme
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the ad products and inventory management processes. Understanding how campaigns are structured and executed will give you a solid foundation to discuss during your interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to demonstrate your problem-solving skills by thinking of real-life examples where you've had to make decisions without much guidance. This aligns perfectly with their emphasis on clarity of thought and judgement under pressure.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your ability to thrive in ambiguity by discussing experiences where you had to create structure or processes from scratch. This will resonate well with their search for candidates who can navigate uncertainty.
✨Tip Number 4
Engage with current employees or alumni who have gone through the graduate scheme. Their insights can provide valuable information about the company culture and expectations, helping you tailor your approach.
We think you need these skills to ace Graduate Scheme
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Company: Familiarise yourself with native's mission and values. Understand their role in connecting students, Students’ Unions, universities, and advertisers. This will help you tailor your application to reflect their goals.
Showcase Your Thinking: Instead of a traditional cover letter, provide a piece that demonstrates your thought process. Choose one of the suggested topics, such as a trade-off you've made or a problem you've solved independently, and articulate your reasoning clearly.
Craft a Strong CV: Ensure your CV is up-to-date and highlights relevant experiences that showcase your intellectual sharpness and structured thinking. Include any projects or roles that demonstrate resilience, judgment, or initiative.
Be Authentic: Don't hesitate to apply even if you feel you don't meet every requirement. Native values how you think and your potential to contribute. Be genuine in your application and let your personality shine through.
How to prepare for a job interview at TargetJobs UK
✨Show Your Problem-Solving Skills
Prepare to discuss how you've approached problems from first principles. Think of examples where you had to break down complex issues and find solutions without much guidance.
✨Demonstrate Clarity of Thought
Be ready to articulate your thought process clearly. The interviewers will appreciate candidates who can express their ideas logically and concisely, especially under pressure.
✨Embrace Ambiguity
Share experiences where you thrived in uncertain situations. Highlight your ability to make decisions without a clear map, as this is crucial for the fast-paced environment at native.
✨Highlight Your Initiative
Discuss instances where you took the initiative to improve processes or systems. This shows that you are proactive and care about doing quality work, aligning with the company's values.